TARGET MAN - Jamie Cureton is desperate to mark Reading's first home game back in Division 1 tonight with a goal.

Jamie Cureton is determined to ease the hurt of being left out of Reading's opening game of the season by grabbing the goals to sink Sheffield Wednesday tonight (kick off 7.45pm).

Royals are desperate to mark their first-ever Division 1 match at Madejski Stadium with a victory.

And Cureton looks set to return to partner Martin Butler up front for the live Sky Television encounter as boss Alan Pardew switches back to a 4-4-2 formation.

Cureton was left out of the starting line-up in last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Pride Park, but he is likely to replace Sammy Igoe tonight as Nicky Forster is not ready to come back after being laid low by a virus.

Cureton said: "I wasn't surprised I was left out even though I feel I had a good pre-season.

"Once I knew the formation, I didn't expect to play. It still hurt, though, and I was very disappointed as obviously I want to play. Now when I get the chance I have got to show I deserve a place in the starting line-up. I've been determined to do that because of last year when I was being brought off a lot.

"I want to play more regularly, although away from home we might play a different formation which means changing the team and at times players are going to be left out.

"But I think if we get on a run and we are playing 4-4-2 then the manager will stick with a winning formula.

"Ever since I have been here we've played 4-4-2 and it's always gone very well.

"We have now gone up a level and we are playing against better teams but I still think we're good enough to match teams.

"When I came on against Derby it coincided with them scoring their goals, but the pressure had started before that and they had already missed a few chances.

"I don't think we did ourselves justice. People probably expected us to lose but I don't think we performed."

Cureton added: "We are going to have to win as many home games as possible and, particularly after what happened last Saturday, we are determined to get a win tonight.

"It's the first home game of the season, it's live on TV and it really is a massive game for us."

While Reading enjoyed promotion last season, Wednesday only just escaped relegation.

The Owls, who drew 0-0 at home to Stoke City on Saturday, will be missing strikers Lloyd Owusu (injury) and Leon Knight.

But Cureton knows it is still going to be a tough test, adding: "Wednesday are a good side, probably better than any team we played against last year.

"We are not going to walk over teams like last season. We will have to play to our maximum if we are to get results."